Chapter 16
On the way to Sun Whale Headquarters where her brother worked, Rylana checked the coffee shop to see if Sylin was there.
Since she wanted to make sure her friend was all right after her conversation with Layothlee, Rylana had already checked three times that day, not that she’d truly expected to find Sylin perched on the rooftop in the rain.
Sylin wasn’t there this time either, but Tezilly and Brella were whispering in hushed tones as they stood shoulder to shoulder and wrote on the chalkboard near the entrance.
“Well, if I don’t see her before then,” Rylana said, “Sylin is sure to show up for that.”
“Elven Plant Master Chalora,” Jildarin said from behind her shoulder, “has informed me that, should the weather cooperate, the rooftop terrace will be complete tomorrow. She has already placed pots of exotic elven erasthfusor trees and used her magic to speed their growth to maturity. They will rise to an easily contained twelve to fifteen feet in height and an equal spread with branches that will create a natural pergola.”
Rylana raised her eyebrows at the sharing and wasn’t sure if he was talking to her, to the coffee-shop owners, or to himself.
“The moss and vines have already come in,” Rylana said dryly, waving toward the facade of their diner where the greenery was starting to dangle over the edges and down the walls. The rain had prompted a lot of rapid growth.
“Yes,” Jildarin said.
“It’s going to be beautiful up there,” Tezilly said.
“If you’re into elf froufrou.” Brella waved a dismissive hand.
“Lots of people are,” Tezilly said. “I love nature.”
“It’s okay.”
“Coffee beans come from nature,” Tezilly pointed out.
“Yes,” Brella said with an agreeable purr.
Jildarin looked at Rylana, almost expectantly. Was she supposed to have twigged to something from what he’d shared?
“An outdoor seating area designed by elves would be the ideal place to not only host a most excellent meal,” Jildarin said, “but to unveil your flavored-water specials.”
“Are you inviting us to host our event in your new venue?” Tezilly asked.
“We’re planning to host our event right here in our own shop, surrounded by our roasting and brewing equipment and all our ingredients and our kitchen.” Brella pointed at the floor.
“Your shop lacks elven decor,” Jildarin said.
“We like it that way,” Brella said.
Tezilly lifted a hand to pinch Brella’s lips closed. “A joint event could be wonderful and memorable. The unveiling of our exotic coffees and the opening of your rooftop terrace designed by the renowned elven plant master would mix wonderfully together.”
“Yes,” Jildarin stated firmly.
Brella leaned back to extricate her lips and open her mouth, no doubt to protest.
But when Jildarin added, “The elven queen will attend,” she paused.
“Does she drink coffee?” Tezilly asked. “Oh, what an opportunity it would be to share our samples with royalty. You have to agree with that, Brella.”
Her partner frowned but didn’t continue to protest.
“It might be all right to meet her,” Brella said. “I’m sure she’s snooty though. All elves are. Except our quirky regular.” She pointed upward, toward to the lone table and chair on their unpublicized rooftop seating area.
“The quirky regular who leaves gold coins and is funding your grandson’s private tutoring,” Tezilly said wryly.
“Yeah, I like her.”
“The rain has stopped,” Jildarin said. “We will depart. This establishment will host its unveiling at the Dragon Diner tomorrow evening.” He nodded firmly, then turned for the door, but he paused to eye the chalkboard and lift his hand toward it.
Magic rippled in the air around his fingers, and Rylana was close enough to sense heat radiate from them.
The chalkboard started smoking with ash trickling from the slate.
Tezilly squawked in surprise, but before she could intervene, a blackened dragon-shaped image appeared, one that matched the pyrography on the door and the lampshades for the diner.
“Now, your beverage consumers will know where to go for the special,” Jildarin said before stepping outside.
“He’s presumptuous, isn’t he?” Tezilly asked.
“He’s a dragon,” Brella stated.
“You can send me a bill for the damages if you don’t like your new artwork,” Rylana offered, feeling she should apologize.
“It’s all right,” Tezilly said. “We can work with it. We can draw coffee mugs in front of the dragon’s maw.
And I love the idea of having our gathering over there.
I’ve been peeking at the progress, and it already looks amazing.
I’m surprised Chef Jildarin wants us there though.
He’s always given the impression that our coffee shop is beneath him. ”
“He’s a dragon. They all think everything is beneath them.” Brella laughed shortly. “At their size, most things are beneath them. Literally.”
“True. Maybe he’s changing though.” Tezilly considered Rylana. “Maybe you’re changing him.”
“I doubt that,” Rylana said.
“He stands closer to you now. Maybe he likes you and cares what you think.”
“Maybe he just wants to mate with her,” Brella said.
“Maybe both,” Tezilly said, as Rylana shook her head.
“Dragons don’t mate with other species,” Rylana said. “It’s not logical.”
“I thought I noticed him smelling your hair.”
Rylana’s cheeks warmed. He had been standing close.
But he kept assuring her that he wasn’t interested.
No, she corrected, realizing something for the first time.
That wasn’t what he’d said. He’d said it would be a mistake if they were intimate.
Because of his clan and the threat its dragons represented to her.
Maybe, if they weren’t a problem, he would let himself...
“Come, my partner,” Jildarin stated from the doorway. “The threat to the diner remains. We must deal with your kin.”
“Yes, of course,” Rylana murmured.
As she joined him in walking along the waterfront toward the Sun Whale offices, wagons spattered through the puddles.
Though it was early in the afternoon, the dark day already saw the gnomish fire-fliers zipping between streetlamps, igniting the flames.
Judging by the lingering clouds, it would rain more later.
Rylana and Jildarin walked a mile and a half, reaching an upscale area of piers and shops where luxury passenger vessels and yachts docked.
Though it would have made more sense for shipping offices to be located near the freight docks, the marble-columned building decorated with sculptures and friezes fit with this area.
A sign listed offices within, giving Sun Whale Shipping, with its sun-and-harpoon logo, the most prominent spot at the top and sharing that it occupied the entire ground floor.
Her father had worked out of a smaller space when Rylana had been young, so she hadn’t visited this building before.
She followed signs to a desk with a female half-orc receptionist, her orange-dyed hair in two perky pigtails.
On the walls behind and all around her were mounted ancient fishing and hunting paraphernalia, everything from whalebone harpoons to a boomerang to artfully arranged collections of stone arrowheads.
Rylana recognized an antler-handled dagger as something her brother had traded for as a boy.
His collection had expanded greatly since then, and he’d added numerous magical items. A silk fishing net and a cudgel glowed slightly.
Further magic and a pale-blue glow emanated from a gnomish recording contraption on the desk that the receptionist towered—and glowered—over.
It buzzed and squeaked, looking as eager to spit out papers as the fine-issuing devices the peacekeepers carried.
It was in the process of doing so when Rylana and Jildarin stopped in front of the desk, pages listing ships, cargos, and routes forming a stack.
At their arrival, the half-orc female’s glower lessened. She leaned across the counter on her elbows and regarded them with interest. Actually, her interest seemed to be for Jildarin. Maybe she possessed enough magical ability to sense power and recognize him as a dragon.
“Is my brother, Frodin, in?” Rylana asked. Not wanting to risk being shooed away because she didn’t have an appointment, she added, “I’m Rylana Avandar.”
“That’s nice,” the half-orc said in a deep rumbly voice.
“Are you Jildarin-grozanarav of Clan Killcrusher? Chef Jildarin-grozanarav? I’m saving my money so that I can visit the Dragon Diner.
I’ve heard you do magnificent things with elk loin and that your roc ribs are to die for.
Orcs love fowl ribs, especially large fowl ribs.
I inherited those tastes from my father, I think. ”
“I am Jildarin, yes,” he said. “You will dine for free at my establishment, providing you help my business partner, Rylana.”
“Free? Oh!” The half-orc turned her gaze toward Rylana. “How may I be of service? Did you say Lord Frodin is your brother?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve heard you’re the serious, focused, and less forgetful one.” Was that a wistful sigh?
“I, ah, might be at times. Frodin has always been more—”
“Distracted, self-absorbed, and prone to run off to have adventures instead of working? Don’t tell him I said that.
My pay has already been docked three times this month.
It’s not my fault I’m honest and say what I think.
That’s why he hired me. Well, also because I know just about all the laborers really well, since I used to be one.
But he likes that I say what I think about them and tell him who’s a good worker and who’s prone to thieving.
” She shrugged. “What did you say you want?” She glanced at Jildarin. “And will roc ribs be free?”
“If my partner can source them,” Jildarin said. “They’re not easy to come by. But if you please her…”
It always amused Rylana that Jildarin, despite his disinterest in the business side of running the diner—and occasionally being puzzled by the phrases and antics of two-legged species—had no trouble with negotiations when he put his mind to them.